The Bengals are making their third playoff appearance in three seasons with Dalton under center, but are still looking for their first postseason victory. Dalton has tossed four interceptions and no touchdowns in those games. Last season, he completed just 14 of 30 passes for 127 yards in a 19-13 wild-card loss to the Texans.

This season, Dalton set career highs with 4,293 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. He's got a stud wide receiver in A.J. Green. He's got a solid running game. He's got a great defense. If Dalton comes up small again today, he won't have any excuses.

2. Taking them to the Woodhead

San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead gives the first down signal after catching a pass in the overtime period of the Chargers' 27-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in San Diego. The victory put the Chargers into the playoffs. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

The Chargers passing game has been as diverse as it has been dangerous this season with five different players catching more than 40 passes. While rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen (71 receptions for 1,046 yards) gets most of the credit for helping quarterback Phillip Rivers rebound from a down year in 2012, the addition of running back Danny Woodhead has been just as important.

The versatile Woodhead, long buried in a revolving backfield in New England, gives Rivers his best outlet option since Darren Sproles left for New Orleans. Woodhead flourished with increased playing time in San Diego this season, finishing second among all NFL running backs in receptions (76) and receiving yards (605).

The Bengals have to account for Woodhead, especially on third down where he's shown a knack for keeping the chains moving. Cincinnati's defense did a great job of that when these teams met earlier this season in San Diego, holding Woodhead to just two catches in a 17-10 Bengals victory. They'd be wise to keep the understated running back on their radar today.

3. Bengals RBs vs. Chargers ILBs

The Bengals' backfield tandem of rookie Giovani Bernard (695 yards rushing, 5 TDs) and veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis (756, 7 TDs) combined for 34 carries, 149 yards and a touchdown when Cincinnati beat San Diego in the regular season. The Chargers will need to do a better job of stopping the run in today's rematch, and it starts with inside linebackers Manti Te'o and Donald Butler.

Butler was the team's second-leading tackler this season despite missing three games due to injury, and Te'o (imaginary girlfriend aside) has emerged as a solid rookie run-stopper for the Chargers. The duo is a big reason why San Diego has the NFL's 12th-ranked rushing defense.

This game features the NFL's top two ball-control teams. In their December meeting, the time of possession battle was a virtual draw (30:20 for the Chargers to 29:40 for the Bengals), which was one reason why it went down to the wire. In a contest where possessions will be at a premium, the Chargers want to get Phillip Rivers on the field as frequently as possible. If Butler and Te'o can't bottle up Bernard and Green-Ellis, that won't be very often.

Watch the NFL Network crew break down the matchup between the Bengals offense and the Chargers defense:

Forecasters predict a temperature of 1 (yes, 1 as in ONE!) for kickoff with a windchill of -17. And that'll likely be the high point, as temperatures and wind chills are only expected to tumble from there. Frostbite could be a real concern -- for fans and players.

The Packers have the cold-weather tradition, but does anyone really have an advantage in weather that frigid? I guess we'll find out.

2. Getting a handle on Kaepernick

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been a starter for less than two full seasons, but he's been at his best against the Packers. He torched Green Bay for 181 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a divisional playoff game last year. Then he shredded their secondary to the tune of 412 yards passing and three TDs in the 2013 season opener.

Can he do it again today? The Packers defense has proven it can't slow him down, but maybe the cold will? Green Bay fans better hope so. If recent history is any indication, it might be their only chance.

3. Great time to get healthy

The Packers, hobbled all season by injuries, got healthy just in the nick of time. The Bears let them hang around in the NFC North race while quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed seven games with a broken collarbone and wideout Randall Cobb sat out 10 weeks with a broken leg, and Chicago paid the price when Rodgers and Cobb returned to beat the Bears for the division title last Sunday.

With Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Cobb and Jarrett Boykin, who played during Cobb's absence, Rodgers has perhaps his deepest receiving corps yet heading into the postseason. That's bad news for San Francisco, especially with rookie Eddie Lacy providing the Packers with their best running threat in years.

The 11th-hour return to health is reminiscent of last season when Cobb and Nelson returned from injuries at playoff time to help the Packers reach the divisional round -- where they, ahem, lost to the 49ers.

Watch the NFL Network crew break down the matchup between the Packers offense and the 49ers defense: